Library Cards

1. General
2. New Cards
3. College, Junior College, and Boarding Student Cards
4. Business Cards
5. Cards for People Under 15 Years of Age
6. Visitor and Temporary Cards
7. Card Renewals

1. General
   1. The JCLC library card is honored at any public library in Jefferson County. However, some electronic resources may not be accessible from outside the library or in other areas depending on licensing agreements.
   2. Identification is needed for new, replacement, and renewed cards.
      1. Proper identification includes state-issued picture identification and a form of address verification.
      2. If patrons have no picture ID, alternate forms of ID may be acceptable.
   3. Cards expire one year from issuance or renewal. Exceptions to this would include students and persons in shelters or temporary housing.
   4. Signatures on library cards are optional.
2. New Cards
   1. New (first-time) membership cards are available at no charge to Jefferson County residents.
   2. An annual nonrefundable fee of $30.00 is charged for nonresidents of Jefferson County.
   3. The fee is waived for persons who work in Jefferson County.
3. College, Junior College, and Boarding Student Cards
   1. A college or junior college student may use a current student identification card to apply for a library card. Proof of address must be presented.
   2. The student must live on campus, and the campus must be in Jefferson County. Proof of residency is required.
   3. Boarding students at the Alabama School of Fine Arts must supply a notarized letter from the school.
   4. The expiration date for the student’s library card should be set on the system for August 31.
   5. The student’s campus address will be used as a mailing address.
   6. The student's home address will be used as the secondary address.
4. Business Cards
   1. Business cards are issued at no charge to businesses or agencies in Jefferson County.
   2. Businesses that are located outside of Jefferson County will be required to pay the annual, nonresident fee of $30.00.
   3. Documentation for business memberships must include the following:
      1. A request for a business membership must be presented in writing on company letterhead.
      2. The presiding officer of the company must sign the request.
      3. A business application must be completed.
      4. he completed application must contain the names of the four (4) persons authorized to use the card. Whenever there is a change among these four (4) persons, a new letter is required.
      5. This process must be followed to renew the card. Card must be renewed on an annual basis as with individual records.
5. Cards for People Under 15 Years of Age
   1.  Juvenile library cards are issued under the following circumstances:
      1. Patrons under the age of 15 must have a parent or legal guardian present with a government-issued ID (passport, driver’s license) and verification of current address in order to obtain card.
      2. Patrons under the age of 18 who do not have their own government-issued ID, must have a parent or legal guardian present with a government-issued ID (passport, driver’s license) and verification of current address in order to obtain a library card.
      3. Patrons 15 or older who have their own government-issued ID and verification of current address may obtain a library card.
      4. The child must be present in order for a card to be issued in the child’s name.

   VI.  Visitor and Temporary Cards

   1. Visitors from out of state may check out materials. To check out material, a visitor must make a cash deposit equal to the retail value of all material being checked out. Certain municipalities may make exceptions to this rule.
   2. Residents in temporary shelters are limited in the number of items and type of materials that can be checked out, and by expiration dates. Expiration dates should be no more than the time specified in a letter from the shelter director.

6.  Card Renewals

   1. All libraries must update any county resident's JCLC card.
   2. Fines and other application problems must be cleared before a card can be renewed.
   3. Nonresidents of Jefferson County must pay an annual, nonrefundable library card fee of $30.00. The fee is waived for persons who work in Jefferson County.